#9 Warmth

Warmth: what is it? Earlier, I depicted warmth as the fun stuff we like to do and places we feel happy and whatnot. But through a long train of thought, I realized that there’s a lot more to warmth than that. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good day on the couch, writing for the blog or going to the movies. But we’re missing out if we stop our understanding there. Warmth is the attitude we fix upon, grow in, and nurture into a roaring fire that guides us through long winter nights. 

And I’m not just saying that to be poetic. I lived it. I didn’t realize until today that I have experience living what I’m talking about. As I entered high school, music became my everything. I didn’t just listen to my old, hot-pink ipod whenever I could (yes, I got a hand-me-down. It was hilarious!) I made music my way of life. I was learning to draw band logos, imagining what my own band would sound like, and getting involved with other fans online. Music truly was the center of my life. 

And when we make something our lives, something special happens: we start to get warmer. It’s an artificial warmth, sure, but it’s probably one of the best ones that we have. That excitement that borders on obsession can really open a lot of doors, possibly even helping you get out of that cold place that you found yourself in to begin with. This isn’t necessarily a formula or a guarantee that everything good will happen all at once, but it’s one of the best things to happen from a cold winter. 

But when put like that, it sounds like I’m actually saying that our cold winters are a good thing. Nah, I wouldn’t really go that far. Trouble with cold winters is that they still do plenty of damage. Cold leaves scars, even as we thaw out. And there’s always that ever-looming fear of facing another winter in the near future. Winter is still winter, and the bitter cold is still a terrible thing. 

So what am I getting at, then? I’m saying that as far as shelters go, an intense purpose is pretty hard to beat. You can carry it everywhere and make it everything. You just have to learn to pick something that really resonates with you and to let it bleed into every part of your life. It might be music, art, philosophy, or something like that. Anything that you can fix your mind on that takes it somewhere positive. And don’t neglect the power of catharsis when looking for “positive.” Dumb it down and think of it like this: if you are happy, then keep going with it!

And let me tell you: this really works. It works so well that I still have a deep tie to music that I couldn’t break, even if I wanted to. It runs deep in my bones and it’s still a big part of what I call home. And as I have grown and evolved, my music has evolved with me. It has been a companion of sorts, and I believe it’s a powerhouse that should not be underestimated.

So I pray that God brings you to that thing that fixes your mind on positivity. That all the cold you are going through can be redeemed for a passion-project that consumes you til winter’s end. I can’t emphasize enough how great a thing this is and how strongly I pray that you find it for yourself. I pray that you find the way to fix your mind on positivity, redeeming the pain for a sweet release.

Until Next Time

May Peace be your Guide.